During the international company's visit, they met Cr Burnett for tours of the Gladstone State Development Area, Northern Oil's Advanced Biofuel Pilot Plant at Yarwun and the Gladstone Ports Corporation.

Refining managing director Tim Rose described Gladstone as a "centre for resources, mining and manufacturing".

"You only have to look at our significant further investments to make Gladstone home to Australia's first dedicated biocrude and biofuels laboratory, and biofuels pilot plant, to see how highly we rate the city and its people," Mr Rose said.

Cr Burnett said the company is due to visit the Queensland Premier next week to discuss the Advancing Queensland fund opportunities, which helped attract Southern Oil to set up in Gladstone.